A Night Journey Poem by Daniel Brick

A Poem for the Two of Us

I went in search of LUCK today.
I looked first in my apartment.
I even moved furniture to look closely
in out-of-the-way places it might be hiding.
Nothing. So I went outside, and walked over
the soft grass, intensely green from rain.
A row of trees and bushes stretched
into the thickening darkness, and
and the night-purple sky spread overhead
like a richly colored Persian carpet.

I saw two people, young and clearly
happy in each other's company. They sat
very close, and their silence was
the eloquence of true love. "Hey, guys, "
my voice invaded their silence. "Have you
seen any trace of LUCK nearby? " They looked
puzzled, but the girl said, "Why do we need
luck when we have each other? " I hope
she saw my smile, as I withdrew...

I walked along a darkening path, a tree
swelled out of the shadows, and on a long
branch sat a dozen finches. Two had already
buried their heads in sleep, others ruffled
and combed their feathers. The sight of their
calm made me abandon my search for LUCK.
I saw an elderly couple walking slowly
side by side. They did not see me:
they were looking into each other's faces,
no doubt searching for secrets they alone shared.
I left them in their private peace...

The air was stillheavy with the day's
extreme heat. Had not all the creatures
already surrendered to sleep? Animals and
people alike were now prepared to dream
their passage into morning. Before I can
join them I must bring closure to my search
for LUCK. Perhaps LUCK is not a thing we can
hold, even mold into what we think we need.
LUCK is rather a mood that friendship creates
and sustains. It is not an event, it is
a series of actions that promote joy and hope.